The Iranian foreign minister said today that Tehran will not give up its nuclear programme but that talks with Russia to jointly enrich uranium would ease international concerns.
Manouchehr Mottaki's comments came after the International Atomic Energy
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that Tehran will not give up its nuclear programme, but added that ongoing talks with Russia would ease international concerns over its atomic ambitions
Agency (IAEA) announced yesterday that Iran was pursuing a nuclear fuel enrichment programme and obstructing UN investigations.
"We would like to enjoy our rights like Japan to have nuclear technology, of course for peaceful purposes," Mr Mottaki told reporters after meeting Japanese Trade Minister Toshihiro Nikai.
On Sunday, Iran's nuclear chief said Tehran had reached a "basic" agreement with Russia on a joint venture to enrich uranium, but it was unclear if that meant Iran would give up enrichment work at home, the main demand of Western nations.
Mr Mottaki told Mr Nikai that Iran and Russia are still discussing where to carry out the joint enrichment, according to the Japanese official.
Moscow had originally proposed that Iran's uranium be enriched in Russia to clear suspicions that Tehran might divert the nuclear fuel for a weapons programme.
But Iran has insisted on the right to enrich uranium on its own soil, saying its nuclear programme is to meet increasing electricity demand caused by an expanding economy.
The nuclear stand-off has put Japan in a bind between its policy to stay in diplomatic sync with the United States, its main security ally, and its plans to develop an Iranian oil field that Tokyo sees as vital to its energy strategy.